Government funds needed for the purchase of the coronavirus vaccines are “in safe hands,” President Duterte assured the public.

The President said he trusted a group of honest officials on the government's pandemic response, particularly in the acquisition of the vaccines.

"Medisina well ito, malaki ‘to (On the medicine, it will be huge) but it’s being handled by a competent group of men whose integrity,” Duterte said during a televised address Monday night. "So your money is in safe hands," he added.

The government earlier identified P73.2 billion in funds to acquire potential vaccines to protect Filipinos from the new coronavirus disease. The funds for the vaccine purchase will come from multilateral agencies, domestic and bilateral sources.

The country's vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government plans to buy vaccine supply for 60 to 70 million Filipinos in the next three to five years. Inoculating such population number would be enough to attain herd immunity and curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to health authorities. The government is already in talks with some foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers to secure the country's supply of the life-saving drugs.

As the world awaits for the vaccine production, the President has urged anew the public to continue to observe health measures to avoid getting infected. He said people should stay at home if they have nothing essential to do outside.

Duterte also rejected allegations of critics that the government was mishandling the pandemic response. He explained that the government has relaxed the movement restrictions so people can go back to work so they can take care of their families.

"Stay safe,” Duterte reminded the public.

 "Halos kinukulong mo na ang lahat nagugutom naman. So luwagan mo (If you keep them at home, they might go hungry so better relax the restrictions) because they have to eat, they have to survive," he added.